University of Maryland TOC

Andrew is a senior at the University of Maryland where he is majoring in Physiology & Neurobiology and minoring in General Business. Andrew is on the Pre-Med track and has experience working as both medical and research assistants, where he engages with and learns from patients from various backgrounds.

Isabella is a junior at the University of Maryland majoring in Public Health Science on the Pre-Physician Assistant track, with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. She joined TOC in her sophomore year to help advance health equity through philanthropy, education, and service. Her passion for health equity was sparked during her time as a Global Fellow, where she focused on Global Health and Water Security—an experience that inspired her to explore the intersection of health infrastructure and human security through her minor. Isabella hopes to begin her career in clinical women’s health and eventually transition into public health policy, aiming to ensure that policy decisions reflect the real-world experiences of both patients and practitioners.

Davina Canagarajah is currently a Sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is majoring in Biology, with a concentration in Physiology and Neurobiology, and a minor in Health, Humanities, and Medicine. She became involved in Trials of Color through her interest in rural medicine and her commitment to increasing opportunities for patients in underserved areas to gain access to clinical trials. Her passion for addressing healthcare disparities began in high school during her service trips to communities along the Appalachian Mountains. After witnessing the limited resources and low healthcare worker-to-patient ratios, she became determined to work toward reducing inequities to healthcare access.

Ayanna Arroyo is on the pre-nursing track at the University of Maryland, College Park, with a strong interest in healthcare and service. She chose to join TOC because she values opportunities that bring together students from different backgrounds to support one another. For Ayanna, TOC represents a community where she can strengthen her leadership skills, connect with peers who share her drive to make a difference, and contribute to creating an inclusive environment on campus. Beyond academics, Ayanna has gained hands-on experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in clinical settings and through research where she learned the importance of diversity and empathy in delivering impactful care. These experiences have also shaped her desire to continue growing as both a student and a leader. Ayanna’s future career goal is to become an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and researcher, where she hopes to combine patient care with advancing knowledge to improve the quality of life for older adults. She is motivated by her passion for addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive compassionate, high-quality care. Her involvement in TOC reflects her commitment to service, collaboration, and making a lasting impact.

Aleezah Khaliq is a junior at the University of Maryland majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. After experiencing personal losses of loved ones to cancer, she developed a deep commitment to supporting patients and families facing similar challenges and is dedicated to advancing equitable healthcare. She has gained extensive experience in oncology through her work as a medical assistant at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, where she assisted in providing direct care to cancer patients in infusion and clinical settings. She has also has a keen interest in cancer research and recently published a paper on cancer genomics and transcriptomics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. In addition, she completed an internship at the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence, gaining valuable insight into the process of clinical trials as well as research on current immunotherapies in cancer treatment. This upcoming semester, she will be working with Project WISH, a community based organization that provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to underserved populations. Aleezah is excited to be a part of Trials of Color to continue uplifting and advocating for communities that have faced barriers to healthcare access, and she hopes to pursue a future career at the intersection of medicine, research, and health equity.

Samiksha Mahashetty is a freshman Finance and Criminology & Criminal Justice double major at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has always been involved in advocacy, and is excited to bring this passion into her college career through TOC. Samiksha had been attending TOC meetings and events since she was in high school, so she is looking forward to getting even more involved this year!

Alisha Wu is a sophomore Computer Science major at the University of Maryland. She joined Trials of Color because she is passionate about addressing inequalities in healthcare and increasing representation in clinical research. Through TOC, she hopes to help others gain a better understanding of the challenges in healthcare and contribute to initiatives that make a tangible difference. Alisha is especially interested in how technology and research can work together to improve healthcare access and outcomes. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career that bridges computing with advancements in healthcare.

Elise Huang is a sophomore at the University of Maryland, double majoring in biology and psychology. She plans to attend graduate school and pursue a research-focused career, with a particular interest in cancer genetics.

Olohitare is an undergraduate senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She’s pursuing a double degree in Public Health Science and Psychology with a minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. She values TOC’s commitment to increasing BIPOC participation in clinical trials, as she believes representation in research is important for advancing equitable and culturally responsive healthcare.

Kiyana is a senior at the University of Maryland studying Neuroscience on the Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological (MCP) track. She joined Trials of Color because of its mission to reduce disparities in cancer care and ensure that underserved communities are equitably represented in clinical research. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, Kiyana is interested in how the brain and body interact at the molecular level to influence health outcomes, and how this understanding can be used to improve care for marginalized populations.

Aashvi is a junior majoring in Biology and minoring in business. She hopes to become a dentist in the future and eventually run her own practice. She is interested in TOC because she loves the goals TOC has to bridging the gap between people of color and clinical trial research. She hopes to learn from TOC and take her experiences with her in her future.

Louwam is a senior majoring in General Biology on the pre-dental track. She wanted to be part of Trials of Color because its mission to advance diversity in healthcare aligns with her goal of becoming a dentist who advocates for equity, representation, and compassionate care.